Selective signal for telephone systems.



PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

M. H. DEGN AN. SELECTIVE SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. 1906.

2 SHEETS-LSHEET 1.

[NVENTOR B a W m WITNESSES,-

Aitorney PATENTED NOV; 13; 1906.

7 'M. H. DEGNAN. SELECTIVE SIGNAL FOR. TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB; 20. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNE SE5:

UNITED STATES MICHAEL H. DEGNAN, or

PATENT OFFICE.

NASH UA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1806.

Application filed February 20, 1906. Serial lilo. 302,017.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, MICHAEL H. DEGNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashua, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Selective Signals for Telephone Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a selective ringing device or call for party-line telephones or the like, and has for its object to provide an improved device of the kind.

It embodies an electromagnet in the linecircuit operating an armature and a pawl and ratchet to turn a cam-shaft, together with a circuit-closer consisting of a rocking box havin a tortuous passage therein containing a ba il which when it runs to the end of the pas sage closes the circuit, the movement of the box being controlled by a' follower which rests upon the cam.

The construction will be more evident from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly diagrammatic, of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top view partly in section. Fig. 3 is a view showing the arrangement of the cams at the different stations. :Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the outer casing and dial.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 indicates a casing or box in which the mechanism is contained. 'lhishas a dial l1,providcd with numbers corresponding to the number of the station, the numbers shown being from 1 to 7, with a blank station or starting-point indicated by 0 when the line is not in use.

The line-wires are indicated at 12, connccted to an electromagnct 13. The armature 14 of this magnet is pivoted on a standard 15 and carries at its outer end a pawl 16, which is cngageablc with a ratchet-whey! l7, mounted on a shaft 18, which carricsthc pointer 19 for the dial, The teeth of the wheel correspond in number and position lo the number of stations and the numbers on the dial. The shaft 18 has thereon a cam 19, provided with a low point, as at 20. At 21 is indicated a box mounted to rock upon a shaft 22, supported by a slaudard 23. The box has a loi'tuous or zigzag passage or run 24, containing a metal ball 2:"). The shaft 22 has a laterally-projccl ing arm 26, with a roller 27,1"csting as a follower upon the edge ol' the l cam 19. At 28 are indicated telephone sigl nal-bells connected on one side to the main 1i? and on the other side to one of a pair of couducting-posts 29, they other of which is connected to the other side of the main line. These posts stand side by side under the box 21. At the end of the runway the box has an opening 30, and the parts are so arranged that when the box is turned down the posts 29 will extend into the opening 30 and be connected across by the ball :35, thereby closing the bell-circuit A spring nccted to the box and holds the follower to the cam.

The cams at the dilierent stations will be so set on their respective shafts that the notches or low points of the cams will correspond in position to the numbers of the respective stations on the dial tive teeth onthe ratchet, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The tilt or rock of the box is controlled by the cam. The parts are so arranged that when the follower is on the high points of the cam the box is tilted so that the ball will be at the rear or closed end of the runway. When the follower is at the low point of the cam, the front edge of the box is tilted so that the ball will run down to the posts of the bcll circpit and close the same. Some little time is required for the ball to run down the zigzag way, and this time is utilized to allow the calling-station to Miss stations not wanted by short or quicl move ment of the operating mechanism, the impulses over. the line being sent by any of the means usually used forthat urpose. Thus oncdesiring to rail station l e. 5 will send live impulses over the line, the first four being' short and the fifth long. At each impulse the box will of course tilt at one of the stations; but the first fourimpulses being short suilicieut time will not elapse for the ball to roll down the runway before the cam is again turned, which will turn the box back; but the fifth impulse being long will give time for the ball to run down to the posts and so close-the bel as desired, and the bell will ring there as long as the current is held on. The pointers of the dials of all the stations will be correspondingly moved and will indicate to all thestations that the line is busy and may not be interrupted. When thecall is finished, the parts are returned to original position by giving enough short impulses (threcin the in 3] is conand the respecl-circuit at station No. 5,

stance specified) to bring the ports to the 0 l position. lcsvcsths line rssdylor next use. l I. clsinr- 1 The combination with the shaft having snd a ststion-indcx thereon, of tho tilt- 1 ing box hsving sv follower which rests upon the com, and s circuit-closing roller in. the hon.

The cornmnntion of a tilting box having a tort-nous runway therein and a circuit-closl roller in said runway, of a shaft having a V selective corn therson, connections between the corn and the box to tilt the some accordnag to'thc position of the shaft, and means; connected to the msin line to turn tho shaft. E 3. 1n n selective sigl'islhig system, the comloinntion at a station of a shaft having s stutiondndcx and at sclectivs cam thereon, stiltvhon having therein a zigzag runwsy, a

r0 or in the runway, s pair of contact-p eces in the hell-circuit and-under the and of tho and a follower resting on the cam and connected to the box, thereof.

4. The combination with the hell circuit' having a pain of contacts therein, of s tilting box having a runway with an opening at the end above the contacts and into which said contacts project when the box is tilted down, a ball in the runway, constructed to connect the contacts and close the circuit, and means connected to and controlled by the main line to tilt the box.

In testimony whereof I have signed my rnune to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL H. DEGN AN.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN L. HALLINAN, LENA F. Pnrcnimn. 

